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2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Bernie has already created a third Party. [View all]Scuba
(53,475 posts)43. Is a new major party now inevitable?
http://www.bluejeannation.com/is-a-new-major-party-now-inevitable/
Blue Jean Nation: Is a new major party now inevitable?
American politics is in system failure. In a democratic republic, the definition of system failure is when a clear public consensus emerges that we the people are being ruled, not represented. Current conditions fit that definition. The latest polling by The Associated Press shows nearly all Americans now believe that neither major political party represents the views of your average voter. A mere 14% say the Democratic Party is responsive to the voters while just 8% say the same about the Republicans.
An overwhelming majority of voters told AP in no uncertain terms that neither party is receptive to fresh perspectives. Only 17% of the public say the Democratic Party is open to new ideas for dealing with the countrys problems, and a meager 10% say that about the Republican Party. A whopping 90% of voters lack confidence in the countrys political system while upwards of half go so far as to say that the two-party structure is seriously broken. Seventy percent of voters, including equal proportions of Democrats and Republicans, admit to feeling frustrated about the 2016 presidential election and 55% say they feel helpless.
...
All of these findings are akin to tremors that foreshadow a coming earthquake. Seismic events have been rare in American politics. Never in our lifetimes has a major party splintered and disintegrated. Never in living memory has a new major party taken shape and seriously threatened the ruling parties. But it has happened before. On multiple occasions, as a matter of fact. The birth of the Republican Party coincided with the death of the Whig Party as the country wrestled with the evil institution of slavery. The Progressive movement produced major political upheaval in the Gilded Age at the end of the 19th Century, causing massive fractures within the major parties at the time and ultimately transforming both of them.
For the first time in a very long time, the signs are again unmistakable. You can feel the tremors. America is on the brink of the political equivalent of an earthquake. The landscape is going to be dramatically altered. No one has a crystal ball capable of showing us exactly when the quake will hit or where the largest chasms will open. But what is clear is that the conditions are ripe for the emergence of a new major party. Chances are the majority of Americans will get their wish soon enough.
American politics is in system failure. In a democratic republic, the definition of system failure is when a clear public consensus emerges that we the people are being ruled, not represented. Current conditions fit that definition. The latest polling by The Associated Press shows nearly all Americans now believe that neither major political party represents the views of your average voter. A mere 14% say the Democratic Party is responsive to the voters while just 8% say the same about the Republicans.
An overwhelming majority of voters told AP in no uncertain terms that neither party is receptive to fresh perspectives. Only 17% of the public say the Democratic Party is open to new ideas for dealing with the countrys problems, and a meager 10% say that about the Republican Party. A whopping 90% of voters lack confidence in the countrys political system while upwards of half go so far as to say that the two-party structure is seriously broken. Seventy percent of voters, including equal proportions of Democrats and Republicans, admit to feeling frustrated about the 2016 presidential election and 55% say they feel helpless.
...
All of these findings are akin to tremors that foreshadow a coming earthquake. Seismic events have been rare in American politics. Never in our lifetimes has a major party splintered and disintegrated. Never in living memory has a new major party taken shape and seriously threatened the ruling parties. But it has happened before. On multiple occasions, as a matter of fact. The birth of the Republican Party coincided with the death of the Whig Party as the country wrestled with the evil institution of slavery. The Progressive movement produced major political upheaval in the Gilded Age at the end of the 19th Century, causing massive fractures within the major parties at the time and ultimately transforming both of them.
For the first time in a very long time, the signs are again unmistakable. You can feel the tremors. America is on the brink of the political equivalent of an earthquake. The landscape is going to be dramatically altered. No one has a crystal ball capable of showing us exactly when the quake will hit or where the largest chasms will open. But what is clear is that the conditions are ripe for the emergence of a new major party. Chances are the majority of Americans will get their wish soon enough.
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You can rest assured that the Progressive Wing of the Democratic Party will present...
ChisolmTrailDem
Jun 2016
#23
In what way can support for Clinton be considered 'underground"? Maybe DU needs a name change...
ChisolmTrailDem
Jun 2016
#22
You should run that by the admins. I obviously am not the decider on such matters.
PeaceNikki
Jun 2016
#27
Because you can't answer the question honestly. Well, at least you're being you. nt
ChisolmTrailDem
Jun 2016
#37
I think you might be right. The two party thing is being stretched to the breaking point.
Vattel
Jun 2016
#3
I would prefer that he has engineered an important change in the Democratic party
Fast Walker 52
Jun 2016
#4
Not in the eyes of most of those over 55. Go ahead and discount that voting bloc too.
tonyt53
Jun 2016
#17
In other words, you're voting for Donald Trump. A vote for Jill Stein is a conduit for voting Trump.
ashtonelijah
Jun 2016
#13
Right after Bernie releases his tax returns, as every person running for prez has done, except two
tonyt53
Jun 2016
#18
But the argument that has been made for many years and with multiple candidates.
tonyt53
Jun 2016
#36
We also fought against THE MAN...Big Business/Government power....now look at us.nt
clarice
Jun 2016
#59
It's up and running and ready to go. Bern could've run on their ticket (he IS a member),
Surya Gayatri
Jun 2016
#21
Sanders is also a card-carryng member. He could easily have chosen to run on their ticket...
Surya Gayatri
Jun 2016
#31
I have been a democrat all my life. Hillary has successfully and single-handedly made me reconsider.
lumberjack_jeff
Jun 2016
#67